Singapore's top manpower issues in 2012
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SINGAPORE: Foreign worker levies were raised in last year's Budget. All the changes would have been implemented next July.
Depending on the sector companies are in and how reliant they are on foreign workers, companies will pay between 250 and 750 dollars more in levies per worker.
To reduce dependency on foreign workers, companies are being urged to raise productivity.
In addition, they are encouraged to tap on older workers, back-to-work women, part timers and the disabled.
The Employment Act is also being reviewed in response to the needs of a changing workforce.
Phase one of the review is expected to be completed in 2013, and the second phase will likely commence in the last quarter of next year.
The labour movement wants the Act to be extended to cover the growing numbers of professionals, managers and executives (PMEs).
Some have urged the government to be more flexible and adjust foreign worker numbers according to business conditions.
Analysts warn there could be more companies that will shift elsewhere, downsize or even close down with the tightening measures.
Mech-Power is one of many local companies that has endured the labour crunch. It moved a large part of it operations to Johor to cope.
Cliff Loke, managing director of Mech-Power said: "Whenever we have an overload of work, we just put out a (recruitment) banner outside the factory and we get a lot of workers coming after us for the job. Also, the labour cost is much cheaper than in Singapore."
Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin indicated the pace of labour restructuring will also be a factor in tightening measures.
"We will work with companies to transit and we will look at the various measures in place and to see whether we will continue to tighten (foreign labour). So, a lot depends on demand," said Mr Tan.
"Will demand ease off? Will restructuring take place? So this is something we will continue to track and we will continue to effect these levers (in tightening labour) over time."
Policies are also being changed to improve the welfare and well-being of foreign workers.
Starting 1 January 2013, foreign domestic workers will get a mandatory day off.
Employment agencies said this can attract more foreign maids to work in Singapore.
"Singapore employers are very fearful of what the domestic workers are going to be doing on their (rest days). I think there's a fear factor they seem to have, but we need to trust the person who's working in our homes," said K Jayaprema, president of Association of Employment Agencies Singapore.
"What an employer can do is to guide these domestic workers. They can also look at skills upgrading. There're so many courses available for these domestic workers."
In November, 171 bus drivers from China went on strike. It was the first strike in 26 years in Singapore.
The drivers were unhappy about pay and living conditions.
The government considered the strike as an illegal one as public transport is an essential service and sufficient notice of the intent to go on strike is needed.
Observers believe Singapore's international reputation has not been dented.
"I think the long-term repercussion (of the strike) is quite minimum but should another episode happen, then I'm not very sure," said Assoc Prof Tan Khee Giap, co-director at Asia Competitiveness Institute.
To prevent such an episode from happening again, employers have been urged to review their grievance-handling procedures.
- CNA/xq -
As we strive for cheaper, better and faster labour force, we have to prepare for expensive damage, worse quality and slowest to recovery results.
It may not be evident now but as all the good works are slowly eroded with the low quality work standard and ethics, more problems will arises.
As with the happening of "refusal to work", more issues will arises with more SMEs and Ah Kong company using low quality labour with false degrees.
The initial cost saving profit turning into expensive damage repairing cost.
How long can the can hold the worms ?
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Sorry, just allow me to side track a little. The refusal to work ( low quality work standard and ethics) also applies to HDB's Contractor doing HDB house upgrading.--- Ken-PxL
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it makes sense why.
they know they cannot anyhow sukasuka get in cheap labor, the number will decrease, so they raise levy mah. when 2 multiplese are qualtiy the ammount they earn till teh same lor.
aiyah bobiah lah, people kaopeh too conjested.
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Originally posted by Medicated Oil:
As we strive for cheaper, better and faster labour force, we have to prepare for expensive damage, worse quality and slowest to recovery results.
It may not be evident now but as all the good works are slowly eroded with the low quality work standard and ethics, more problems will arises.
As with the happening of "refusal to work", more issues will arises with more SMEs and Ah Kong company using low quality labour with false degrees.
The initial cost saving profit turning into expensive damage repairing cost.
How long can the can hold the worms ?
we know we cannot fight other countries on labor cheapness.
but we cannot afford to have too many cheap ones here, it will overpopulation and erode our social cohesion. we know tehre are other areas gahmen can do like adjust rental. we have limited space why cant we reclaim more space and land? we can do for jurong island and Tuas, why cant we do more?
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Originally posted by QX179R:
Analysts warn there could be more companies that will shift elsewhere, downsize or even close down with the tightening measures.
Mech-Power is one of many local companies that has endured the labour crunch. It moved a large part of it operations to Johor to cope.
Cliff Loke, managing director of Mech-Power said: "Whenever we have an overload of work, we just put out a (recruitment) banner outside the factory and we get a lot of workers coming after us for the job. Also, the labour cost is much cheaper than in Singapore."
- CNA/xq
read huh this portion. what type of labor is so easy to find that you can get dogs and strays reporting for interview just by putting abanner outside your factory?any tom dick harry can cum in lah its tokin about those no-skill manual jobs lah. if they hired skilled labor, engineers and managers, or even chemist just by haging a banneroutside can get people cum in for jobs is power siah. have to salute them
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Clear- cut case of MOM being not pro- active enough! Because the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing , it seems the Ministries lack co-ordination: immigration , economic development, education, manpower so planning always inadequate or cock- up!clear as daylight they are always fire fighting instead of preventing the fire! Chiak lat for the younger generation!
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I would like to see a government who can at least outline how they see the economic situation at least three years to five years down the road and plan accordingly, and more importantly giving workers employers and the public the right expectations and consequence of whatever direction the country is taking us ! Not only fire fighting when circumstances and situations presents themselves or created by bad policies! Then you see U - turns, and global outside effects taking the blame always for poor foresight and lack of proactivity! Damn chiak lat!